I didn’t realize that the artistry of the ’60s was back in style again — at least as dictated by what’s left of the major record labels — until I was assembling the following shortlist of new, highly desirable box sets.

Yes, nearly all of the performances are timeless, but what’s also striking is how warm and present these recordings sound. I doubt that MP3 files will ever equal these remastered CDs in terms of fidelity, but they said that about CDs in relation to vinyl at one time as well.

John Coltrane, “The Impulse! Albums, Vol. 5” (Impulse): Energy music from saxophonist Coltrane’s final period of the mid-’60s, this is the material people refer to when they say that his music was difficult or “out.” And it isn’t for short attention spans or for anyone seeking solace in passive dinner music.

But it is intense, committed and for the fearless, uncommonly beautiful. Coltrane’s recordings and myth will be endlessly recycled; I’m partial to these box sets in this reissue series because they present the music in a reasonable facsimile of how it was originally released, with CD versions of the original LP releases. There’s a lot of challenging sound to discover and live with here.

Wes Montgomery, “Movin’: The Complete Verve Recordings” (Verve): The opposite end of the spectrum from Coltrane, even though the two were recording during the same period. As guitarist Montgomery’s star rose, he was eased into situations that would yield the most commercial music possible. Many of these sides are relaxed and tasteful, and the sessions with organist Jimmy Smith exude upbeat camaraderie. But some of the dates submerge his guitar in easy-listening corn syrup. Still, it’s nice to think that there was a time when big-budget instrumental jazz albums like these were a priority. And I can’t stop listening to it, even the gooey stuff.

Miles Davis, “Live in Europe 1967: The Bootleg Series Vol. 1” (Columbia/Legacy): A Miles Davis box set is released every fall, and this one features the leanest packaging in memory: three CDs and a DVD housed in cardboard instead of an expensive metal tomb or a shelf-hogging shrine. But it’s the music that’s important and this is vital material, showcasing the trumpeter’s Second Great Quintet at their creative height, as they traveled across Europe. And even if the Davis fan in your life is familiar with the titles here, three hours of previously unreleased music from what was perhaps his finest group is a happy discovery. Volume 1, huh?

Ray Charles, “Singular Genius: The Complete ABC Singles” (Concord): This deep, wonderful collection has materialized in recent weeks to little fanfare. Consisting of every A- and B-side of each single Charles released for ABC Records from 1960 to 1973, these discs contain his most commercially successful, and arguably his most heartfelt recordings. Much of what is here has been hard to obtain for years — a seemingly endless supply of soulful vocals, orchestras and tears, filtered through the traditions of jazz and blues, but always bent to Charles’ will. What discerning listener wouldn’t love at least some of these songs?

Set list. Vocalist Sophie Milman closes out the weekend at Dazzle tonight. … Mary Lynn Gillaspie, formerly of Rare Silk, sings at the Mercury Cafe on Thursday. … Dave Honig’s New Standards Project performs a jazz tribute to Tom Waits and Wayne Shorter at The Bar, 554 S. Broadway, on Saturday. … Hazel Miller and Dotsero team up for a holiday concert at Broomfield Auditorium on Dec. 5. … The CU Jazz Ensemble presents the Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suite at Dazzle on Dec. 8. … Pianist Kenny Werner performs at the Mount Vernon Country Club on Dec. 8.